"After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men."   (Matthew 9:  1 - 9).

Thursday 30th June 2022, in the 13th Week of Ordinary Time is the
feast of the First Holy Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church. In 64 AD, before the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome, the vicious Emperor Nero set Rome on fire.

To escape the wrath of the Roman people, he blamed the Christians. Then he ordered all Christians arrested and be put to death. We celebrate today the witness of the multitude of Christians who demonstrated astonishing courage to perish for faith in Jesus Christ. This event happened so early in Christian era in the persecution of Emperor Nero. Many who witnessed the courage of the martyrs became Christians. "The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity." (Tertulian).

Jesus was ministering in a room packed with people.  The friends of the paralytic man lowered him from the roof and dropped him in front of Jesus.  Their action is the "faith" that Jesus saw.  So we can see faith.
The bigger theme of the Gospel of today is the sin of the paralyzed man.  Since Jesus came to suffer and die for sin, He dealt first with the root and source of illness.  “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven." (Matthew 9: 2).  Jesus was immediately attacked for forgiving the man's sins. “This man is blaspheming.” (Matthew 9: 3).

The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world knows more than anyone the intricate connection between Sin, Suffering and Salvation.  He proves it:
"Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”  (Matthew 9: 5 - 6). For God all things are possible. All things are simple.

"Lord, send your mercy and your truth to rescue us from the snares of the devil, and we will praise you among the peoples and proclaim you to the nations, happy to be known as companions of your Son."  (Psalm Prayer, Lauds).

6. 30.  Today is the end of the month of June dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The month of July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus.

Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fullness of divinity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father was well pleased, have mercy on us.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

July 1st , 2022 is First Friday in July.

Jesus promised 12 special favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month.  In the 7th month of the year 2022, we look at Promise #7.

#7.  "Tepid souls shall become fervent."

What is tepid?  Tepid is defined as lukewarm, slightly warm, unenthusiastic, apathetic, half-hearted.
Listen to what Jesus says about such persons:
"Because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth."  (Revelations 3: 16).

Are you lukewarm with regards to Jesus, to spiritual things? Regain your fire through devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
"We should, every morning, place our sufferings, prayers and labors in the pierced Heart of Jesus; there everything will be purified and perfected." (Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus).

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion.

For the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sacred Heart devotional prayers and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"ERROR NEVER SHOWS ITSELF IN ITS NAKED REALITY, IN ORDER NOT TO BE DISCOVERED." - (ST IRANAEUS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH). IRANAEUS UNMASKED THE HERESY OF GNOSTISM WHICH TAUGHT THAT THERE ARE TWO GODS IN THE WORLD: THE GOOD GOD AND THE BAD GOD RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE EVIL IN THE WORLD. THIS HERESY WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BEFORE THE 4TH CENTURY. IT CAME BACK AGAIN IN THE HERETICAL SECT CALLED JEHOVAH WITNESS.
CHRISTIAN BEWARE OF WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING.

"As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?” (Matthew 8: 23 - 27).

Tuesday 28th June 2022 of 13th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast  of St Irenaeus (125 - 203). Bishop and Martyr and Doctor of the Church. St Polycarp was instructed in the faith by St John the Apostle. He, Polycarp instructed St Irenaeus who became a Bishop in Lyons in France. Note the date of Irenaeus life and you will understand why France is called the Eldest Daughter of the Church. St Irenaeus is an early Church Father. God called Irenaeus to uphold the revealed truth of the faith and bring peace to the Church. Pope Francis declared him the 37th Doctor of the Church on January 21st 2022.

What is the legacy and of St Irenaeus? Irenaeus defended the Church against the poisonous heresy of Gnosticism. This heresy was so thoroughly defeated that it disappeared. About 100 years ago, it reincarnated itself in the heretical sect called Jehovoh Witness. They claim that there are two gods governing the world: a good god that causes good things and and evil god that causes bad things. They deny that Jesus Christ is God. They deny the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. They target especially Catholics who have little knowledge of Scripture.
Beware of them. They are wolves in sheep clothing. We need a new St Irenaeus for our day to deal them final mortal blow.

Two famous quotes of St Irenaeus:
1. “The glory of God is the human person fully alive.” ...

2. “Error, indeed is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected."

The Apostles with Jesus in the stormy sea faced another type of threat to life. Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea and there was deep calm. The Apostles did not realize that the presence of Jesus with them in the boat meant that they were safe. Jesus asked them at Caesarea Philippi "Who do you say that I am?" They followed Jesus but did not know who He is?
“What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?” (Matthew 8: 28). They wondered after the calming of the storm.

Do you personally know who Jesus Christ is? This knowledge in crisis could be the difference between life and death.

"God's faithful promises are our armor and protection." (Psalm 91: 4). The Holy Scripture is filled with these promises. They are for you and your children. Invest some time in learning them. "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." (St Jerome).

6. 28. "Listen to Me and I will speak to you. My Heart overflows with love for you, and when one loves, one has much to say—and then there is a communion in love deeper than all words, in the silence that unites souls to Me. I will give you that silence too." (IN SINU JESU).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com